In an experiment carried out at the University of Texas, babies paid more attention to attractive faces than to unattractive faces (Newman 3). Even six-month-old babies, who have no understanding of ethical and social values, can judge appearances. Within a society, beauty is a powerful force that can be used to oppress and discriminate against different groups. The geisha’s “world of flowers and willows” is a community that depends on the recognition of beauty and artistic talent (Wieder 1). Geisha are highly respected female artists and revered as “living treasures” of Japanese culture (Akita 3). Despite differences between regions and times, all cultures value women for their beauty; thus, the role of women evolves to adapt to the changing demands that exist in the geisha community of Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha, ancient Chinese foot-binding traditions, and the modern workplace. In Memoirs of a Geisha, Chiyo, a poor girl living in a small fishing village, enters an unknown world when she is sold into an okiya, a lodging house for geishas. Forced to work as a servant, Chiyo is reluctant to obey the okiya that prevented her from seeing her family. Once Chiyo realizes that her past is irremediable, she understands "how completely the landscape of [her] mind has changed" to desire "an image of the geisha [she] wanted to become" (Golden 161). Chiyo's change in perspective led her to recognize her desire to be part of the glamorous geisha lifestyle. Thanks to this transformation, “[she is] no longer known as Chiyo. [She is] the novice geisha Sayuri” (176). As an apprentice geisha, Sayuri devotes herself entirely to the study of the arts. However, in order to fully embrace this lifestyle, Sayu...... middle of paper ......eimark 5). The idea that older people can't keep up with the modern world is an obvious theme in the workplace. In order to maintain their jobs, older women must undergo liposuction and facelifts, which has enormous psychological effects on self-esteem. In past and present societies, women find value in their communities based on different aspects of beauty. In Memoirs of a Geisha, Sayuri gains economic independence through dramatic competitions between herself and other geishas. The ancient Chinese tradition of foot binding continued a custom that enslaved women under the guise of beauty. Today's modern workplace involves a high level of professional appearance that requires plastic surgery. In all cases, beauty plays a vital role in instilling a culture that persists and defines the complex relationships between women and men...